EDUCATION secretary of state Charles Clarke used a whistlestop tour of Merseyside to confirm he is making no more concessions over the introduction of £3,000 tuition fees.

EDUCATION secretary of state Charles Clarke used a whistlestop tour of Merseyside to confirm he is making no more concessions over the introduction of £3,000 tuition fees.

He said he will be spending the time between now and the first vote on the controversial Higher Education White Paper talking to rebel MPs.

He said: "There will be no more concessions. I feel proud of what we have offered - it's a very good chance for the country.

"It's no secret there are people in Parliament who are against it and between now and the second reading I will be working to encourage as many people as possible from all parties to give their support to the Bill in the best interests of the country."

Mr Clarke's first appointment was to officially open the dedicated vocational skills college for 14 to 16-year-olds in Kirkby - the country's first.

The £2.4m centre, based at Knowsley community college, Cherryfield Drive, offers workshops and facilities for courses such as hairdressing, beauty therapy, catering, engineering and electronics.

Mr Clarke said: "Knowsley community college, with the support of the Learning and Skills Council, is clearly very committed to realising its vision of becoming recognised both nationally and locally as a centre of excellence for education and training.

"Opening the country's first dedicated vocational skills centre for 14 to 16-year-olds here today is an important milestone and a clear sign of the everincreasing importance of excellent local provision of vocational skills."

Mr Clarke also took a look at the new Jaguar X-Type estate during a trip around the Halewood Jaguar plant's education centre.